Marine Seismic Acquisition System

Abstract

A marine seismic acquisition system includes a frame that includes a central longitudinal axis and members that define orthogonal planes that intersect along the central longitudinal axis; a data interface operatively coupled to the frame; hydrophones operatively coupled to the frame; a buoyancy engine operatively coupled to the frame where the buoyancy engine includes at least one mechanism that controls buoyancy of at least the frame, the hydrophones and the buoyancy engine; and at least one inertial motion sensor operatively coupled to the frame that generates frame orientation data, where the hydrophones, the buoyancy engine and the at least one inertial motion sensor are operatively coupled to the data interface.

1 . A system, comprising:
 a sensor array configured to couple to a vessel, wherein the sensor array comprises:
 at least three members arranged parallel to each other and configured to form a triangular prism shape; and 
 a plurality of seismic sensors mounted to each of the at least three members; and 
   at least two components configured to maintain a buoyancy of the sensor array while underwater at a depth.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least three members are configured to be positioned in a vertical position while underwater. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two components comprise a first component coupled to a first position relative to the at least three members and a second component coupled to a second position relative to the at least three members. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the first position is opposite to the second position relative to the at least three members. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of seismic sensors comprises a plurality of hydrophones. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of seismic sensors comprises a plurality of micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) accelerometers configured to measure water particle acceleration. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of seismic sensors is positioned in a plurality of locations disposed on each of the at least three members. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein each location of the plurality of locations is spaced apart by a distance determined as a function of signal-to-noise (SNR) threshold associated with separating an upgoing seismic wavefield from a downgoing seismic wavefield of seismic data acquired by the plurality of seismic sensors. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising an orientation device, an engine thruster, steering device, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the orientation device is configured to assist with controlling an orientation of the sensor array while underwater. 
     
     
         11 . A seismic acquisition system, comprising:
 a vessel;   a sensor array configured to be coupled to the vessel via a cord, wherein the sensor array comprises:
 at least three members arranged parallel to each other and configured to form a triangular prism shape; and 
 a plurality of seismic sensors mounted to each of the at least three members; and 
 at least two components configured to maintain a buoyancy of the sensor array while underwater at a depth. 
   
     
     
         12 . The seismic acquisition system of  claim 11 , wherein the vessel is unmanned. 
     
     
         13 . The seismic acquisition system of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of seismic sensors comprises a plurality of hydrophones, a plurality of micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) accelerometers, or both. 
     
     
         14 . The seismic acquisition system of  claim 11 , comprising a processor configured to determine an orientation of the sensor array is determined based on one or more measurements acquired from a plurality of micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) accelerometers. 
     
     
         15 . The seismic acquisition system of  claim 11 , comprising a steering device configured to position the sensor array such that the at least three members are positioned in a vertical position while underwater. 
     
     
         16 . The seismic acquisition system of  claim 11 , comprising an orientation device, an engine thruster, a steering device, or any combination thereof, coupled to at least one of the at least two components. 
     
     
         17 . The seismic acquisition system of  claim 11 , wherein a number of the at least two components is based on the depth of the sensor array while underwater. 
     
     
         18 . A sensor system, comprising:
 a sensor array configured to couple to a vessel, wherein the sensor array comprises:
 a first member, a second member, and a third member arranged parallel to each other; and 
 a plurality of seismic sensors mounted to each of the first member, the second member, and the third member; 
   a first component and a second component coupled to the sensor array and configured to maintain a buoyancy of the sensor array while underwater at a depth; and
 a positioning system coupled to the sensor array comprising an orientation device, an engine thruster, and a steering device. 
   
     
     
         19 . The sensor system of  claim 18 , wherein the first member, the second member, and the third member are configured to be positioned in a vertical position while underwater. 
     
     
         20 . The sensor system of  claim 18 , wherein the positioning system is configured to orient and move the sensor array to an orientation and a location.